07/05/2026
Happy 250th Anniversary, America! 🇺🇸✨
In the spirit of exploration and discovery on this momentous occasion, I wanted to try something completely different with my camera this year.
Last year was my first time photographing fireworks so I did the traditional wide-angle, long-exposure, tripod thing. For this show, I wanted to get up close and personal. I went rogue -- ditched the tripod, grabbed a 100-400mm telephoto lens, and shot handheld using manual focus and a 1/20s shutter speed to stay sharp.
The result? Incredible textures, vibrant abstract designs, and a really cool interplay between the firework trails and the trees. I absolutely love the intricate patterns that emerged!
I’m kind of obsessed with this new look, but I want your honest take: Is this close-up style a win, or do you prefer the classic wide shots? Drop a comment below! 👇
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